Francisco Lorenzo Rips Elio Rojas Over The Gomez Fight

By Jhonny Gonzalez

Former champion Francisco Lorenzo (36-10, 16KOs) has come out and publically ripped the WBC featherweight champion in recess, Elio Rojas (22-1, 13KOs), over his selection to fight Mexico's Arturo Gomez (18-17-5, 8KOs). It will be Rojas' first fight in over a year after having an operation on his right hand. Rojas' return takes place on September 9 at San Francisco de Macoris in the Dominican Republic. Lorenzo think its a disgrace that Rojas overlooked him in order to bring a foreigner into the country.

"I want to remind both Elio and the manager, Mr. Tony Tineo, as well as the promoter Cesar Mercedes, that it's never good to underestimate anybody. I have fought in many countries around the world against great champions at featherweight and junior lightweight and I've been treated with respect after the fights, because even when I lost I did so like a man," Lorenzo said.

"I have respect for Elio because he is a world champion, but I want to make it clear that he never faced the level of opponents that I've faced. I'm here in my own country and I want to fight Elio Rojas, who claims there is nobody for him to fight [in the country]. Elio, why bring in a foreigner if I'm here? Just ask Arturo Gómez how many world champions he's faced. Well, I can answer that for him...none!"